International automaker Toyota has just recalled over half a million of its hybrid cars because of a serious software issue. This software problem can lead to the car just shutting down while driving along the roadway, increasing the odds of a serious car crash. In total, 625,000 Toyota hybrid vehicles were recalled for this particular problem. Approximately 120,000 of these recalled vehicles were sold in the United States.

The Japanese automaker said the problem was linked to software that controls a power converter, similar to an issue last year that led to the recall of 1.9 million Prius cars -- Toyota's biggest ever for its signature petrol-electric vehicle.

The latest call back affected the Prius V, which is also sold as the Prius Alpha and Prius+, as well as some Auris hybrid vehicles.

More than half the recalled vehicles were sold in Japan with most of the others in North America and Europe between May 2010 and November 2014.

While there are not any officially connected reports of injury or death associated with this recall, Business Insider reports Toyota stating " In limited instances, the hybrid system might shut down while the vehicle is being driven, resulting in the loss of power, bringing the vehicle to stop."